There are two primary camps when it comes to holiday decorations: those who believe in trimming the tree as soon as the calendar hits Nov. 1, and those who wait until after Thanksgiving. But I am here to tell you about a third group of holiday enthusiasts: those who pull out the baubles and bows when the pumpkins are barely carved.
It’s me. Hi. I’m the one who starts yanking the decorations out of storage around mid-October. I disguise it, of course, by tossing a couple of those fake, gossamer spider webs over the top of tree.
“Look,” I’ll say to my exasperated husband. “It’s a Halloween tree!”
Reader, it is not a Halloween tree. It’s a ploy to capture those ooey-gooey holiday feelings early. Because for me, there are few things better than the crackle and pop of a fireplace, Andy Williams crooning in the background, gingerbread cookies in the oven and a holiday romance open on my lap. It’s called the most wonderful time of the year for a reason, folks.
Here are some of my favorite holiday reads, tied with a pretty red bow.
Love You a Latke
by Amanda Elliot
A small-town Hanukkah festival, a set of meddling parents, a fake dating scheme orchestrated between an overwhelmed Vermont cafe owner and her most irritating customer: This charming novel has everything. “Love You a Latke” is fresh, feel-good fun, with a cozy romance that warms you from the inside out. Be warned, though: Reading it will leave you craving sufganiyot.
Set the Record Straight
by Hannah Bonam-Young
I am convinced Bonam-Young poured an entire cauldron of sparkling punch into this sweet and spicy Sapphic holiday novella. Clara and Evan are lifelong friends who decide — you guessed it — to fake a relationship in order to make it through their holiday commitments. Bonam-Young tightrope walks between tenderness and passion, striking the perfect balance for friends-to-lovers perfection.
The Mistletoe Motive
by Chloe Liese
Two polar opposite bookstore staffers find themselves competing to stay employed during the holiday season in Liese’s festive novella. This book is like if “You’ve Got Mail” and “The Holiday” had a perfect, snowflake-covered baby. Gabby oozes Yuletide cheer while Jonathan puts up a frosty, Scrooge-like front, and their sharp banter, swoon-worthy romance and authentic emotional journeys make this a must-read.
Merry Inkmas
by Talia Hibbert
If you like your holiday reads with a little more spice, look no further than this delicious romance from Hibbert. Cash is a bad-boy tattoo artist with a heart of gold who offers a job — and a place to stay for the holidays — to Bailey, his secret, sunshiny crush. Fun and fast-paced, this book will warm you up faster than a mug of hot chocolate.
A Holly Jolly Diwali
by Sonya Lalli
When Niki, a recently unemployed data analyst, meets Sameer, an unflappable musician, at a friend’s Diwali wedding in India, sparks immediately fly. Their story roams from the bustling streets of Mumbai to the gorgeous beaches of Goa — a decadent backdrop for this opposites-attract romance. “A Holly Jolly Diwali” is a heartfelt and captivating addition to your winter reading list.
A Merry Little Meet Cute
by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
This book has everything you’d expect from a collaboration between two romance powerhouses: an adult film star stepping out of her comfort zone, a former bad-boy pop singer looking to resuscitate his reputation, a charming spoof of Christmas rom-coms and enough sexual tension to melt the snow off a rooftop. “A Merry Little Meet Cute” is pure holiday magic, topped with a spicy little cinnamon stick.
Holiday Romance
by Catherine Walsh
Every Dec. 24 for the past 10 years, Molly has sat next to Andrew on the last flight from Chicago to Dublin: It’s their friendly little Christmas tradition. But when this year’s flight is grounded, Molly vows to get Andrew home for the holidays. Festive, playful and filled to the brim with Walsh’s signature banter, this is a book I return to every holiday season.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
by Ally Carter
Did you enjoy “Knives Out”? Did you specifically enjoy the way Chris Evans wore a white sweater in “Knives Out”? This book somehow manages to infuse that feeling into every page, melding the murder mystery of that film with the romantic holiday romp of “Love Actually.” The story of Maggie and Ethan — a cozy mystery writer and a thriller writer, respectively, who find themselves solving a real locked-room whodunit — is equal parts swoony and suspenseful, with enough twists to keep you guessing.
Make the Season Bright
by Ashley Herring Blake
It’s hard to make a holiday book both angsty and sparkly, but Blake strikes the perfect balance with this second-chance romance about Charlotte and Brighton. When the exes find themselves stuck at the same house for the holidays, they’re forced to face the messy end of their relationship … and the potential to rekindle it. Achingly vulnerable and deliciously tender, this one will pull at your heart strings.
Just Like Magic
by Sarah Hogle
What happens when Bettie Hughes plays a vinyl record of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” backward? She summons the Holiday Spirit, of course (you can call him Hall). Hogle conjures a magical story of a woman in need of a change and the spirit who changes her perspective. It’s absurd and lovely and smart — and pairs perfectly with your grandma’s favorite fruit cake.
Royal Holiday
by Jasmine Guillory
When a spontaneous holiday vacation turns into a whirlwind romance, Vivian, a 54-year-old single mother, and Malcolm, the Queen of England’s buttoned-up aide, are up against the clock to find their happily ever. Set in the winter wonderland of England at Christmas, “Royal Holiday” (part of Guillory’s impeccable “The Wedding Date” series) is a royal treat.
You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince
by Timothy Janovsky
I love a Timothy Janovsky book, and I especially love a Timothy Janovsky holiday romance. Even though Matthew Prince should be an unlikable hero (he’s based on Dr. Seuss’s Grinch, if you didn’t catch that from the title), Janovsky expertly crafts him with enough charm to have you rooting for his success — and for his love story with the rugged, unimpressed Hector Martinez, which will make anyone’s heart grow three sizes.
The post These Holiday Romance Novels Are Pure Magic, With a Dash of Spice appeared first on New York Times.
